United's striker department has been targeted for an audacious raid by Juventus.

The Italian club have lost Brazilian hitman Amauri for at least two months with a knee injury – and they are on the lookout for a replacement.

Juve are considering January loan deals and have been casting an eye at both ends of the Old Trafford goalscoring spectrum.

They have noted that Dimitar Berbatov was dropped from Sir Alex Ferguson’s 18-man squad for last Saturday’s Wigan match for tactical reasons.

The Reds’ 29-year-old £30.75m club record buy has failed to build on his early season form and has now gone nine matches without a goal since his sensational hat trick against Liverpool in September.

But the Serie A club believe he could help their cause.

They are also said to be ready to ask about United’s Italian teenager Federico Macheda.

The 19-year-old Roman is back in the forefront of Fergie’s attacking plans, however, and the Reds boss has said he is keen to keep an eye on Macheda’s progress at Old Trafford, rather than let him out on loan.

It is likely both Juve’s ideas are doomed to failure, with Wayne Rooney only just back from injury, Michael Owen still out with a hamstring problem and only Javier Hernandez in form.

United could also face an enquiry from Greek club Panathinaikos about Anderson, who hasn’t been seen in action since the Bursaspor home match in the middle of last month. The 22-year-old was then a victim of a flu bug, but there has been no medical bulletin since and Panathinaikos are looking for a loan until the end of the season.

The Reds are expected to finalise the transfer of Aalesunds goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard at the end of the week when club officials have returned from Champions League business in Scotland.